By Sarah Yen, David Hsiao and Arie Pittman
HL English Definition:
Defined by the Oxford Concise dictionary of Literary Terms: Metaphor: The most important and widespread figure of speech, in which one thing, idea, or action, is referred to by a word or expression normally denoting another thing, idea, or action, so as to suggest some common quality shared by the two. Our definition: Metaphor: A figure of speech that refers to one thing as something else when it is not literally true. It is used as a comparison. Examples of Metaphors in studied texts:
O’Connor – “Good Country People” “good country people are the salt of the earth.”
The “salt of the earth” actually denotes the nutrients of the planet. But, in the context of the passage, O’Connor uses “salt of the earth” to describe “good country people” as positive attributes to the world.
Chopin – “The Awakening” title in itself can be a metaphor. “The Awakening” denotes waking up from sleep, but represents Edna’s metamorphosis into a woman with individuality.
Rhys –“We watched the sky and the distant sea on fire”
The sea was not actually on fire, but Rhys has used this metaphor to describe the image of the sea and the sunset with more detail.
Szymborska –"Genetrix of a man with whom I leap through fire."
This excerpt from Wislawa Szymborska's "Born" is a metaphor. The "fire" in this line is meant to represent danger. The line does not literally mean to leap through fire, but Szymborska has used this to represent the act of enduring danger.
Camus –"the sea gasped for air"
This excerpt is from Albert Camus' The Stranger. It is from the middle of the novel when Meursault is walking along the beach, going back to the Arab and is just about to kill him. The protagonist looks over at the ocean and sees the waves and notices the extreme heat. This excerpt shows how a metaphor can also look like personification because the sea is not literally gasping, because it is not able to, yet it is described metaphorically as a means to represent the feeling of Meursault. Just as the sea is gasping for breath because of the heat, so is Meursault.
Marquez –"she heard him breathing in the sea"
This excerpt is from Gabriel Marcia Marquez’s Chronicle of A Death Foretold. This passage is from the 4th Chapter. At the time of this passage Angela Vicario and her family have just left their town. They had to leave from the shame and embarrassment that her wedding brought upon her family.
This passage is referring to Anglea's feelings towards Bayardo San Roman, after their wedding night. She said that she "went crazy over him" and that she could hear him "breathing in the sea". This passage does not mean that she can literally hear Bayardo in the ocean, but rather it is a metaphor which is used to describe in detail how Angela feels and what she thinks of Bayardo San Roman after their ruined wedding night and marriage.
Metaphors
By Sarah Yen, David Hsiao and Arie PittmanHL English
Definition:
Defined by the Oxford Concise dictionary of Literary Terms:
Metaphor: The most important and widespread figure of speech, in which one thing, idea, or action, is referred to by a word or expression normally denoting another thing, idea, or action, so as to suggest some common quality shared by the two.
Our definition:
Metaphor: A figure of speech that refers to one thing as something else when it is not literally true. It is used as a comparison.
Examples of Metaphors in studied texts:
“good country people are the salt of the earth.”
The “salt of the earth” actually denotes the nutrients of the planet. But, in the context of the passage, O’Connor uses “salt of the earth” to describe “good country people” as positive attributes to the world.
The sea was not actually on fire, but Rhys has used this metaphor to describe the image of the sea and the sunset with more detail.
This excerpt from Wislawa Szymborska's "Born" is a metaphor. The "fire" in this line is meant to represent danger. The line does not literally mean to leap through fire, but Szymborska has used this to represent the act of enduring danger.
This excerpt is from Albert Camus' The Stranger. It is from the middle of the novel when Meursault is walking along the beach, going back to the Arab and is just about to kill him. The protagonist looks over at the ocean and sees the waves and notices the extreme heat. This excerpt shows how a metaphor can also look like personification because the sea is not literally gasping, because it is not able to, yet it is described metaphorically as a means to represent the feeling of Meursault. Just as the sea is gasping for breath because of the heat, so is Meursault.
This excerpt is from Gabriel Marcia Marquez’s Chronicle of A Death Foretold. This passage is from the 4th Chapter. At the time of this passage Angela Vicario and her family have just left their town. They had to leave from the shame and embarrassment that her wedding brought upon her family.
This passage is referring to Anglea's feelings towards Bayardo San Roman, after their wedding night. She said that she "went crazy over him" and that she could hear him "breathing in the sea". This passage does not mean that she can literally hear Bayardo in the ocean, but rather it is a metaphor which is used to describe in detail how Angela feels and what she thinks of Bayardo San Roman after their ruined wedding night and marriage.